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Early voting way up: 44 percent cast ballots in Buncombe

More than 86,000 people have cast ballots in Buncombe County during early voting, far exceeding 2012 turnout during the same time frame. Early voting, which started Oct. 20, runs through 1 p.m. on Saturday.

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More than 86,000 people have cast ballots in Buncombe County during early voting, far exceeding 2012 turnout during the same time frame. Early voting, which started Oct. 20, runs through 1 p.m. on Saturday.

The actual number of people who cast ballots in Buncombe is up from 69,317 people during the first two weeks of early voting in 2012, and the increase in voter turnout as a percentage of registered voters is up more than 20 percent from the same time frame in 2012.

"From everything we have, you guys are looking really good," said Patrick Gannon, public information officer for the N.C. State Board of Elections.

Among North Carolina's 100 counties, Buncombe is running in the middle of the pack in terms of turnout increase from 2012. It ranks No. 37. However, the counties that rank above Buncombe are less populous. Early voting has grown more in Buncombe than in the six larger counties.

Gannon said the number of people who vote early statewide is set to surpass 2012 figures during the day on Friday.

Early voters in Buncombe so far make up about 44 percent of registered voters. Statewide, 36 percent of registered voters have cast ballots.

Neggy Fox of Buncombe County Election Services said she expects polls will be busy Friday and Saturday and encouraged voters to visit the Board of Elections website to view wait times.

So far, Weaverville Town Hall and West Asheville Branch Library have been the most crowded early voting locations. Voters can cast ballots at 20 sites throughout Buncombe County and are not limited by precinct, as they are on election day.

"We do expect a surge at the end, just a lot of people realizing that early voting ends tomorrow," Fox said. "All our workers have been working for two weeks now, so by now, they're all veterans, so everything is just a lot easier."

Technical difficulties at the polls have been minimal and routine, she said.

"We've been really very fortunate in that department," she said. "The machines have been doing what they need to. (We are) having to replace ink cartridges, paper and things like that."

Many Buncombe voters said they're not worried about problems at the polls, particularly the specter of a rigged election Donald Trump has referenced.

"Sometimes it goes through my head," said Lisa Armstrong, who voted Thursday at Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center. "I try not to think about it, so really, I don't think about it."

Randy Mengel, a high-school history teacher at Asheville School, said politicians are talking about voter fraud to manipulate voters.

"I think that people want to create fear and make people suspicious of one another," he said. "I think one thing about Americans is no matters how much we disagree, we do agree in the sacredness of the election."